Thailand And New Zealand Enter New Tourism Era As Thai Airways Prepares Landmark Auckland Return

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A new chapter of bilateral tourism cooperation is starting for Thailand and New Zealand with the planned return of Thai Airways to Auckland. This follows high level talks on 21 August 2026. While in New Zealand, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul celebrated 70 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries and launched a Strategic Partnership. This partnership is especially focused in the areas of tourism, cultures and the movement of people and improved air connectivity. This new service will be significant as it will re-establish direct access between Bangkok and Auckland, increase visitor flows and support trade. This service also will bring New Zealand back into Thailand’s wider Asian connectivity. This partnership also will serve to create sustainable market growth for participating airline, hotel and tour operators through 2030 programs.

A Diplomatic Visit Opens a Wider Tourism Story

Thailand’s prime minister received a formal Māori welcome at Government House in Wellington. The ceremony included a hongi, karanga and haka. These traditional elements placed culture and human connection at the centre of the visit.

However, the occasion produced more than powerful ceremonial images. The leaders formally elevated relations between Thailand and New Zealand to a Strategic Partnership. They also welcomed the planned Thai Airways Auckland return.

The development brings aviation, cultural exchange, education, tourism and business mobility into one connected story. It is especially significant because direct Thai Airways services linked Bangkok and Auckland for more than 30 years before the pandemic interrupted the route.

The airline’s proposed comeback could restore a familiar bridge between South-East Asia and the South Pacific. It could shorten journeys for travellers moving between Thailand and New Zealand. It could also improve access for passengers connecting through Bangkok from other parts of Asia and beyond.

The timing carries symbolic weight. Thailand and New Zealand established diplomatic relations in 1956. Their 70th anniversary gives both governments a clear moment to convert long-standing goodwill into practical cooperation.

According to the New Zealand Government’s announcement, the two leaders discussed trade, mobility, connectivity and the return of direct flights. They also launched a framework intended to guide cooperation from 2026 to 2030.

Landmark Thai Airways Auckland Return Takes Centre Stage

The planned return of Thai Airways to Auckland is the most immediate tourism development connected with the visit.

Thai Airways previously served Auckland for more than three decades. That history gives the proposed route a strong commercial and diplomatic foundation. It is a restoration of a proven connection rather than an entirely new market experiment.

The New Zealand Government said Thai Airways plans to resume direct flights in the coming year. At the time of the announcement, the governments did not provide a complete operating timetable, confirmed frequency, aircraft type or formal launch date.

That distinction is important for travellers. The political welcome confirms strong support for the service. It does not replace a complete operational announcement from the airline.

Once operating details are published, the route could give passengers a nonstop journey between Bangkok and Auckland. It could reduce the need to change aircraft in Australia, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or another Asian hub.

Direct access can be especially valuable for families, elderly travellers, students and business passengers. These groups often place a high value on simpler itineraries, fewer airport transfers and lower disruption risk.

The route could also place Auckland within easier reach of passengers using Bangkok as a connecting hub. This gives the service potential beyond point-to-point demand between Thailand and New Zealand.

Why Bangkok Matters to New Zealand Tourism

Bangkok is one of Asia’s most important aviation centres. Its position allows airlines to gather passengers from multiple markets and place them on long-haul services.

A direct Bangkok–Auckland operation could therefore serve more than Thai holidaymakers. It could carry passengers from other South-East Asian markets and support connections from South Asia, East Asia and selected European cities.

This network effect matters to New Zealand. The country sits far from many major visitor markets. Air access strongly influences the time, cost and complexity of an international holiday.

A well-connected Asian gateway can improve New Zealand’s visibility across several markets at once. It can also give tour operators more flexibility when designing multi-country itineraries.

Travellers could combine Thailand’s cities, islands, food and wellness experiences with New Zealand’s landscapes, Māori culture, adventure activities and self-drive routes. Bangkok could also function as a stopover for New Zealand residents travelling farther west.

The route may create new opportunities for Auckland Airport, tourism wholesalers and destination management companies. Yet the final impact will depend on confirmed capacity, operating frequency, fares, seasonal patterns and connection times.

Those commercial details remain essential. Political support creates momentum, but passenger demand and route economics determine long-term performance.

Tourism Becomes an Official Pillar of Cooperation

The Strategic Partnership gives tourism a formal place in bilateral relations.

The official Thailand–New Zealand Joint Declaration identifies four broad pillars:

The declaration directly names tourism as a sector for deeper collaboration. It also calls for improved connectivity for tourists, students and businesspeople.

This language matters because it turns tourism from a general benefit of friendly relations into an official field of work. Government ministries and agencies now have a framework under which they can develop programmes.

Possible areas include tourism training, destination promotion, travel-trade engagement and cultural exchanges. However, the declaration does not list a dedicated tourism budget, bilateral visitor target or complete set of projects.

Any future campaign, funding programme or policy reform will require a separate announcement. For now, the agreement supplies political direction and an implementation structure.

Seventy Years of Relations Provide a Strong Foundation

Thailand and New Zealand began formal diplomatic relations in 1956. Their relationship has since expanded through trade, education, regional diplomacy, security cooperation and movement between their populations.

The anniversary is useful to tourism because major diplomatic milestones attract attention. They can support cultural programmes, official visits, business missions and destination campaigns.

For tourism marketers, 70 years of relations offers a credible story. It allows both destinations to present the new aviation connection as part of a larger relationship rather than a standalone airline event.

The history of the air link reinforces that narrative. Thai Airways served Auckland for more than 30 years before the pandemic interrupted the operation. Its expected return can therefore be framed as the restoration of a long-standing bridge.

The countries also have an established trade structure. Their Closer Economic Partnership dates from 2005. They participate together in regional economic frameworks, including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the ASEAN–Australia–New Zealand Free Trade Area.

These arrangements do not automatically generate tourist arrivals. However, stronger commercial ties can produce demand for flights, hotel rooms, meetings and professional travel.

The combination of diplomatic history, economic links and restored aviation creates a more durable tourism story than a ceremonial visit alone.

Māori Welcome Gives New Zealand Global Cultural Visibility

The Māori welcome offered Thailand a vivid view of New Zealand’s Indigenous identity.

A hongi involves the touching of noses and foreheads and carries deep cultural meaning. A karanga is a formal welcoming call. Haka can convey welcome, respect, identity and collective strength, depending on its context.

These traditions should not be reduced to entertainment. They are part of living Māori culture and formal protocol.

From a tourism perspective, their international visibility can encourage travellers to look beyond New Zealand’s mountains, lakes and adventure attractions. It presents the country as a destination shaped by people, language, history and Indigenous knowledge.

This may help places such as Rotorua, Northland, Auckland, Wellington and other regions offering authentic Māori experiences. It may also support museums, cultural centres, local guides, artists and community-owned tourism businesses.

Official ceremonial coverage can influence destination awareness without functioning as a direct advertisement. It creates curiosity through a real diplomatic occasion.

The strongest editorial angle is cultural diplomacy. The welcome showed how national identity can support international relationships. Tourism may benefit because the same identity gives visitors a deeper reason to travel and engage respectfully with New Zealand.

Thailand Also Stands to Gain From Renewed Air Access

The tourism opportunity is not one-sided.

New Zealand residents have long travelled to Thailand for beaches, city breaks, food, shopping, culture, wellness and warm-weather holidays. Improved direct access could strengthen that demand.

Bangkok can serve as a destination and a gateway. Travellers can continue to Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi, Koh Samui and other Thai destinations through domestic connections.

The city can also operate as a stopover point for New Zealand passengers heading to Europe, South Asia or other parts of South-East Asia. A restored flight may therefore attract travellers who want to break up a longer journey.

Tourism businesses in Thailand could use the route to develop packages for different New Zealand segments. These may include family holidays, luxury stays, wellness retreats, culinary trips, weddings and meetings.

New Zealand is a smaller outbound market than some of Thailand’s major visitor sources. However, direct connectivity can raise a destination’s competitiveness by making travel easier and more visible.

The service could also support travel during New Zealand’s winter, when Thailand’s climate offers a strong contrast. Final demand patterns will depend on schedules, fares and broader market conditions.

New Zealand Tourism Enters the Partnership From a Position of Recovery

Official New Zealand data shows that tourism has regained substantial economic weight.

The Tourism Satellite Account, produced by Stats NZ and funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, recorded 3,320,687 overseas visitor arrivals in the year ended March 2025. That represented annual growth of 4.3 per cent.

The same account estimated total tourism expenditure at NZ$46.6 billion. This was 3.3 per cent higher than the previous year.

International tourism expenditure reached NZ$18.1 billion. It rose by seven per cent, or approximately NZ$1.2 billion, compared with 2024. International visitor spending accounted for 17 per cent of total exports.

Domestic tourism expenditure reached NZ$28.5 billion. Tourism’s combined direct and indirect value added represented 7.7 per cent of New Zealand’s gross domestic product.

Employment also increased. Total direct and indirect tourism employment reached 327,888 people. Direct tourism employment stood at 194,631, representing 6.8 per cent of total employment.

These figures explain why additional aviation links matter. Tourism affects national income, jobs, regional businesses and export earnings. A successful long-haul route can distribute value across airports, accommodation, transport, food services and attractions.

Official New Zealand Tourism Snapshot

The latest full Tourism Satellite Account available at the time of the bilateral announcement covered the year ended March 2025.

The official Tourism Satellite Account labels the 2025 estimates as provisional. This means they may be revised.

The fall in commercial guest nights, despite growing visitor arrivals and expenditure, also shows why headline arrival numbers require context. Travellers may change the length of their stays, accommodation choices or travel patterns.

The proposed Auckland service should therefore be assessed through capacity, spending, dispersal and length of stay rather than passenger numbers alone.

Tourism Growth Supports Jobs Across the Visitor Economy

The aviation link can affect employment well beyond the airline and airport.

An international flight requires ground handling, security, cleaning, catering, maintenance support, passenger services and cargo processing. More passengers also create demand for taxis, public transport, car rental and private transfers.

Hotels may gain room nights from Thai leisure travellers, connecting passengers, airline crews and corporate visitors. Restaurants and retailers can benefit from additional spending. Attractions may receive more bookings.

Tour operators could build escorted holidays designed for Thai visitors. These might include Māori cultural experiences, scenic touring, family attractions, vineyards, ski areas and premium lodges.

Regional businesses could benefit if visitors move beyond Auckland. Domestic flights, coaches, rail services and rental vehicles help distribute demand to Rotorua, Taupō, Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown and other destinations.

However, the route’s employment effect cannot be calculated before capacity and passenger performance become clear. It would be inaccurate to attach a precise jobs figure to the announcement.

The official national statistics instead provide scale. With nearly 328,000 people supported through direct and indirect tourism employment in the year ended March 2025, better international connectivity can influence a large economic network.

Auckland Airport Could Regain a Strategic Asian Connection

Auckland is New Zealand’s principal international gateway. The return of Thai Airways would restore a recognised link with Bangkok and diversify the airport’s Asian connectivity.

For an airport, a restored long-haul route can support passenger volume, retail activity, ground services and cargo operations. It can also add resilience by giving travellers another path between New Zealand and Asia.

Connectivity quality depends on more than the number of destinations displayed on an airport map. Frequency, reliability and onward connection times determine whether a route works well for passengers.

A Bangkok service could offer useful transfers into Thai Airways’ broader network. It may also create competition across some connecting itineraries. Competition can give travellers more choice, although it does not guarantee lower fares.

Auckland would be the immediate gateway, but other parts of New Zealand could benefit through domestic connections. Tourism agencies and regional operators will need to make their products visible to Thai travel sellers if they want the route’s benefits to spread.

The government announcement described the service as planned for the coming year. Until the airline publishes full details, travellers should avoid assuming a particular start date or frequency.

Airlines Gain New Network and Partnership Opportunities

The proposed route can strengthen Thai Airways’ position in the South Pacific while giving New Zealand an additional link to Asia.

Thai Airways may gain point-to-point passengers between Bangkok and Auckland. It may also attract transfer traffic from cities across its network. Cargo can add another source of revenue.

Other airlines could benefit through connecting agreements, interline arrangements or domestic feed. New Zealand carriers may carry arriving passengers from Auckland to regional destinations.

Tour operators often respond to new air capacity by creating packages around launch dates and seasonal travel periods. Wholesalers may negotiate seat allocations, while travel agents require product training and clear destination information.

No codeshare, alliance adjustment or connecting agreement was included in the government announcement. Such commercial arrangements must therefore remain outside confirmed reporting unless airlines disclose them.

The most important immediate industry task is preparation. Travel sellers need accurate schedules, fare rules, baggage terms, connection information and visa guidance before promoting the service.

Once confirmed, the route could support multi-destination products. These could combine Bangkok with Auckland, Rotorua, Queenstown or other New Zealand locations. They could also encourage stopovers in Thailand for New Zealand passengers travelling through Asia.

Hotels and Local Businesses Could Capture Higher Spending

International visitors distribute spending through many parts of a destination economy.

Hotels stand to gain from leisure stays, business delegations and visiting friends and relatives. Premium Thai travellers may seek high-end accommodation, scenic lodges, private touring and specialised dining.

Mid-market hotels and serviced apartments may appeal to families and longer-stay visitors. Students and their relatives can create demand outside traditional holiday periods.

Local businesses may benefit through food, shopping, attractions, guiding services and transport. Thai-speaking guides, translated visitor information and culturally informed service could improve the experience.

Thai restaurants, cultural organisations and communities in New Zealand may also play a role. Visiting travellers often value familiar food and community connections while exploring a new destination.

In Thailand, the same opportunity applies in reverse. New Zealand travellers can support accommodation, local tours, restaurants, wellness providers and domestic transport companies.

The route’s value will depend partly on how effectively both countries convert airline seats into longer stays and wider regional spending. Simply carrying more passengers is not the final goal. Tourism authorities generally seek economic value, visitor satisfaction and benefits that reach local communities.

Tour Operators Receive a Fresh Product-Building Opportunity

Tour operators can turn the new political and aviation momentum into bookable journeys.

For Thai visitors, New Zealand packages could focus on Auckland, Rotorua and Queenstown. Other products may feature self-drive travel, film locations, skiing, wildlife, food and wine, Māori culture or educational visits.

Seasonal differences can create attractive timing. Thailand and New Zealand have contrasting climates and travel experiences. This allows agents to offer snow holidays, cool-weather escapes and nature-based touring to Thai customers.

For New Zealand travellers, packages may connect Bangkok with beach destinations, northern cultural routes or wellness experiences. Stopover products could add Thailand to longer journeys.

Travel sellers must avoid promoting an unconfirmed schedule. They should wait for complete airline details before attaching fixed dates or guaranteed nonstop travel to packages.

The bilateral framework can still support early market development. Training, business-to-business meetings and destination education can begin before flights operate.

Tourism New Zealand had already demonstrated interest in the region by holding Kiwi Link South East Asia in Bangkok from 27 to 29 July 2026. The trade event connected New Zealand tourism representatives with travel sellers from South-East Asia. The Strategic Partnership now adds government-level momentum to that commercial groundwork.

Business Travel Could Expand With a Larger Trade Ambition

The two governments want to triple two-way trade to NZ$13.5 billion by 2045.

That target is not a tourism forecast. Nevertheless, commercial expansion can create travel demand. Businesses need face-to-face meetings, site inspections, negotiations, trade shows and investment missions.

The Thai prime minister travelled with leading business representatives. Their presence underlined the economic purpose of the visit.

More business exchange could support corporate fares, premium cabins, airport lounges and city hotels. It could also create demand for conferences, incentives and executive events.

Auckland is likely to receive much of the initial corporate traffic because it is New Zealand’s largest commercial centre and main international gateway. Wellington may attract government and policy visits. Regional destinations may host industry-specific delegations.

Bangkok offers a major base for New Zealand companies seeking access to Thailand and the wider ASEAN market. Thailand’s manufacturing strength and regional connections add commercial importance to the route.

Business demand can also help an airline maintain year-round performance because corporate travel does not always follow the same seasonal pattern as leisure demand. Still, no passenger forecast or business-class demand projection accompanied the official announcement.

Education Travel Adds Another Layer of Demand

The Joint Declaration gives education a prominent role. It supports academic cooperation, scholarships, language learning, training and skills development.

Education creates travel demand in several ways. Students travel for courses, exchanges and research. Parents and relatives may visit them. Academic staff attend meetings and conferences. Graduation periods can attract family groups.

New Zealand’s Tourism Satellite Account recorded NZ$4 billion in expenditure from international students studying for less than 12 months in the year ended March 2025. This represented growth of 4.8 per cent, or NZ$184 million.

The account also recorded 50,889 visitors travelling for short-term education purposes, an increase of 0.8 per cent.

These figures show that education mobility has measurable tourism value. Accommodation, transport, food services and local attractions can benefit from student-related travel.

Improved Bangkok–Auckland access may make educational journeys easier, particularly if the service offers convenient onward domestic connections.

The partnership also supports language and skills development. Hospitality training could become relevant if future agencies create joint programmes. However, no new bilateral scholarship total, student target or tourism-training fund was announced with the declaration.

Cultural Exchanges Could Drive Event Tourism

Thailand and New Zealand agreed to promote cultural and educational exchanges. They also highlighted creative industries.

This opens the door to festivals, performances, exhibitions, culinary events, film projects and artistic exchanges. Such programmes can generate travel outside peak holiday periods.

Thai cultural events in New Zealand may attract residents, diaspora communities and international visitors. New Zealand showcases in Thailand can raise awareness of Māori culture, food, landscapes and creative work.

Cultural exchange can also strengthen destination identity. Travellers increasingly seek experiences connected with local history and communities. That makes authentic cultural programming valuable to tourism.

The 70th anniversary provides a natural theme for commemorative activity. Governments, embassies and cultural institutions may use it to organise programmes.

However, the official declaration does not list a complete calendar of tourism or cultural events. Reporting should therefore distinguish between the agreement’s stated direction and projects that have actually received approval.

The Māori welcome in Wellington demonstrates the strength of cultural diplomacy. It showed that ceremony can carry political meaning while also presenting a destination’s identity to an international audience.

Border Security Cooperation Can Protect Travellers

Tourism growth requires safe and trusted movement.

Thailand and New Zealand agreed to strengthen cooperation on border security, customs, immigration and cyber security. They also addressed human trafficking, drug trafficking and scam centres.

These issues have a direct traveller dimension. Better information sharing can help authorities identify fraudulent documents, criminal networks and risks affecting international passengers.

Action against scam centres is particularly relevant in a region where online fraud can target people before, during and after travel. Stronger cyber cooperation may improve institutional responses.

Customs and immigration coordination can also support lawful mobility. Efficient processing benefits genuine tourists, students and businesspeople, although the declaration does not announce faster entry lanes or relaxed visa rules.

No visa-free agreement or new immigration concession was unveiled as part of the visit. Travellers must continue to follow the entry requirements applicable to their nationality and purpose of travel.

This is an important accuracy point. A commitment to improved connectivity does not automatically alter visa policy.

The security agenda should be understood as a way to protect legitimate movement while tackling organised crime. It supports confidence in the travel corridor rather than serving as a direct tourism promotion.

Air Freight Strengthens the Route’s Economic Case

Passenger flights can also carry cargo beneath the cabin.

The New Zealand Government highlighted the restoration of an important air-freight connection as one benefit of Thai Airways’ planned return.

Air cargo can support exports, time-sensitive products and business supply chains. It can also strengthen a route’s financial base by adding revenue beyond passenger tickets.

Tourism and freight may appear separate, but they interact. Hotels and restaurants depend on reliable supplies. Events require materials and equipment. Premium food products can support destination dining and hospitality.

New Zealand exporters may use Bangkok as a regional distribution point. Thai businesses may gain improved access to New Zealand customers.

Cargo demand alone does not guarantee the success of a passenger service. Yet it can improve commercial resilience, particularly when leisure travel changes by season.

The governments’ ambition to triple two-way trade gives the freight connection added significance. Increased trade can create more cargo demand, while direct flights make business travel easier.

This combination supports a wider economic corridor. Tourism is one of its most visible elements, but trade, education, culture and investment all contribute to the route’s potential.

Sustainability Must Shape Future Tourism Cooperation

The official partnership calls for sustainable and resilient growth. This principle is important as both countries seek tourism benefits without creating unmanaged pressure.

New Zealand’s destinations face challenges involving infrastructure, seasonal crowding, environmental protection and workforce capacity. Thailand also manages heavy demand in major cities, islands and coastal areas.

Future cooperation could allow agencies to share experience in destination management, skills, technology and community engagement. Māori tourism knowledge may offer lessons about cultural ownership and local participation. Thailand’s large tourism economy provides extensive experience in hospitality and visitor services.

These areas are consistent with the partnership, but individual sustainability projects have not yet been published. They should be treated as potential fields of work rather than confirmed programmes.

Air travel also carries environmental costs. Any assessment of new connectivity should recognise both economic benefits and emissions.

A durable route will need responsible destination planning. Tourism authorities can encourage longer stays, regional dispersal and higher visitor value. These approaches may help destinations gain more benefit from each journey.

The best outcome would combine easier access with authentic experiences, community value and careful management of natural and cultural assets.

What International Travellers Need to Know

Travellers should treat the announcement as an important step rather than a complete booking notice.

The New Zealand Government confirmed political support for Thai Airways’ planned return. However, passengers still need the airline’s final operating details.

Before arranging travel, visitors should verify:

• The confirmed launch date.
• Weekly flight frequency.
• Departure and arrival times.
• Operating aircraft.
• Fare conditions.
• Baggage allowance.
• Transit arrangements.
• Entry and visa requirements.
• Domestic connections within New Zealand or Thailand.
• Travel insurance coverage.

No visa reform was announced during the visit. Existing border rules remain relevant until immigration authorities publish a change.

Travellers should also check whether an itinerary contains a true nonstop service or a connection marketed under one booking. Airline booking systems can display different operating arrangements.

Once confirmed, the service may offer a simpler journey between Bangkok and Auckland. It may also create useful connections through Bangkok.

Visitors planning Māori cultural experiences should choose authentic, respectful products and follow local guidance. Cultural tourism works best when communities lead the interpretation of their own traditions.

What Has Been Confirmed and What Remains Pending

Clear separation between confirmed policy and future possibility is essential.

This distinction protects newsroom credibility.

The route has strong government support. It has historical precedent. It sits within a formal bilateral strategy. Yet its final commercial shape belongs to the airline.

Likewise, the partnership creates a platform for tourism growth. It does not guarantee a particular number of visitors, jobs or hotel nights.

Government Implementation Will Determine the Long-Term Result

The Strategic Partnership is guided by a Joint Plan of Action covering 2026 to 2030.

The two governments have instructed ministries and relevant agencies to implement the plan. Senior officials will report on progress every two years, while foreign ministers will oversee continued implementation.

This review structure gives the partnership more substance than a one-day announcement. It creates opportunities to monitor aviation, education, cultural exchange and tourism cooperation.

The official framework also links bilateral work with ASEAN, the Mekong sub-region and the Pacific. That may strengthen institutional connections across a wider region.

For tourism, measurable progress could include confirmed air services, industry events, cultural programmes, training activity and improved mobility. Only published government or industry announcements should be used to assess delivery.

The 2045 trade target provides a longer horizon, but tourism planning is presently anchored by the 2026–2030 partnership period.

The immediate milestone will be Thai Airways’ detailed route announcement. The next test will be whether travel sellers, airports and destination organisations convert the service into sustainable visitor demand.

Future Outlook Rests on Published Official Commitments

The official outlook contains three firm directions.

First, Thailand and New Zealand intend to support the resumption of direct air services. This is the most visible development for travellers.

Second, they plan deeper tourism, cultural and educational cooperation through 2030. This creates room for travel-trade, academic and cultural programmes.

Third, they want greater economic integration, including the ambition to triple two-way trade to NZ$13.5 billion by 2045.

The governments have not published a bilateral tourism arrival target. They have not announced a new visa arrangement. They have not quantified the number of jobs that the route may create.

The future outlook must therefore remain tied to these verified commitments.

If Thai Airways confirms regular nonstop service, the route will restore a long-standing connection and provide practical infrastructure for the partnership. Its impact can later be measured through passenger numbers, visitor spending, regional dispersal and route continuity.

For now, the strongest conclusion is clear. The two countries have created a formal framework for closer travel relations, and the planned return of Thai Airways gives that framework an immediate aviation focus.

Conclusion

A return visit to New Zealand by Thai Airways to restore its passenger services has signalled a new partnership and tourism initiative. The partnership includes Commissions to develop aviation, tourism, cultural, educational and people to people exchange programs to be completed by 2030. New Zealand stands to benefit commercially from active tourism with its significant tourism economy, while Bangkok will provide access to Thai and broader Asian markets. However, potential customers will have to wait for the airline to provide firm dates and information on flight frequency and the types of aircraft to be used on the services. After Thai Airways makes a firm schedule for its passenger services, the airports and other tourism stakeholders will have to coordinate their activities to sell services and provide accommodation to the expected travelers.